Kansas City Mayor Sly James announced plans for an 800-room hotel in downtown Kansas City, something that could give a huge boost to the city's effort to land large conventions.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James announced plans for an 800-room hotel in downtown Kansas City, something that could give a huge boost to the city's effort to land large conventions.

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Updated: 5:39 PM CDT May 11, 2015

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WEBVTT HOW CHILLY YOUR MORNING STARTS AND AFTERNOONS WILL HEATED GRADUALLY COMING UP. ANCHOR: THE WHEELS ARE MOTION FOR A NEW DOWNTOWN HOTEL. THE CITY'S PORTION, $35 MILLION. MAYOR JAMES SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY A CENT MORE. THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION WILL COME FROM TAXES THAT ARE PAID BY CONVENTIONEERS AND OTHER OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS WHEN THEY STAY IN OUR HOTELS AND EVEN OUR RESTAURANTS. ANCHOR: THE CITY CLAIMS THEY HAVE LOST VISITING GROUPS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF HOTEL SPACE. THEY ESTIMATE THE COST, -- IT COST THE ECONOMY $4 BILLION -- -- $4 MILLION. MICHAEL: THIS IS WHERE THE HOTEL WILL BE AND THIS HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC ISSUE IN KANSAS CITY FOR YEARS. IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] AND CONVENTIONEERS WERE SPRINKLED AROUND 38 HOTELS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STATE LINE. WHAT THIS DOES, THIS LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD. THIS ALLOWS US TO BE AT THE TABLE. WE ARE ACTUALLY MAKING CHANGE. IT SOUNDS GREAT. MICHAEL: THERE ARE ALREADY HOTELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. IT WILL ADD MORE MEETING SPACE AND MORE ROOMS BUT NOT EVERYONE IS SOLD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY IS DECLINING. EVEN CONVENTION LEADERS HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM THE RECESSION. KANSAS CITY IS IN A GOOD POSITION. CENTER OF THE COUNTRY. THEY AND ANOTHER 800 GRAMS DOWNTOWN MAY NOT HAVE CHANGE THAT. THERE WERE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WENT INTO THE DECISION. MICHAEL: THEY BELIEVE THE NEW CONVENTION HOTEL DOWNTOWN WILL BE A GAME CHANGER AS FAR AS

New hotel could boost KC's convention chances

Kansas City Mayor Sly James announced plans for an 800-room hotel in downtown Kansas City, something that could give a huge boost to the city's effort to land large conventions.